Introduction

This page was created to collect possible GPL, LGPL and similar violations of Buffalo Technology or other companies regarding the Buffalo Linkstations and Terstations. Please note that for now we do not claim that a particular company legally violates the GPL or another free or open source license. There are just some issues we think need closer investigation, and we intend to collect these alleged issues here.

The plan is to confront Buffalo or other companies with the complete collection of issues at once instead of just asking for bits and pieces every time. For example, we in fact want the source-code of everything that we think might not properly be included in the GPL packages that can be downloaded at Buffalo's US-ftp-server. If we don't get everything what we think we should get regarding the GPL (if we think our rights are violated), then we most likely will get in touch with http://gpl-violations.org/ for further discussions. Read the short english article at wikipedia also.

What is the GPL?

So what does this mean?

The source-code of every application/kernel/anything that was licensed under the GPL has to be made available. And it has to be made available in a certain form. And the availability has to be announced in a particular way. The package has to be the the exact version of the source-code while it was compiled...so even if it was patched it has to be released that way. GPL violations occur, for example, if companies "forget" to release everything.

Similar rights come with other open or free software licenses, too.

What about the proprietary Programs on the Linkstations/Terrastations?

LS' and TS' come with a number of proprietary software, which was apparently written from scratch. For example, PCast or the AVM daemons. If such a program is indeed not based on any GPLed code (not a derived work), and all the nitty-gritty details regarding the linkage of the proprietary code with GPLed, GPLed with linking exemption, LGPLed, or similar code are done right, we don't care, since then we apparently have no right to the source code of these proprietary programs.

Of course, should we find that a proprietary program indeed uses (is a derived work of) GPLed software, or the linking or other issues violate the GPL or another open/free software license, we are interested and want to ensure that the software is distributed in compliance with the appropriate open source or free software license, e.g. the GPL.